When I was growing up on Dearborn Avenue, I lived in the same house my Dad grew up in. His mother lived in that same house when her family immigrated from Leeds, Yorkshire, England in 1915. Four generations of Wilkinsons lived at #7 Dearborn Avenue. My Dad had many great memories of the neighborhood, and most of them revolve around playing baseball at Avery Field. This field is now gone, since there is a housing project there now. When my Dad was growing up it was a vacant lot at the end of Dearborn Avenue. Bill Poole lived at #17 Dearborn Avenue. I remember playing with his daughter Carolyn, who was my age.

Bill Poole sent me a nice email when he saw my photo in the Salem News, and he has exchanged a few messages with me over the weekend. One of them included this photograph dated 5 September 1949 and labeled "the last game played on Avery Field". It shows the two teams for a Boys vs Men baseball game. My Dad also remembers playing games against the boys from other neighborhoods, including Prospect Hill, where my godfather lived. My Dad has passed away, but I still hear about those games from my godfather!

My Dad is the 14 year old boy with sunglasses, Jack Wilkinson, fourth from the left in the middle row.

Bill Poole said in his message that "...it was the last of many fun filled games that brought the neighborhood together...". I remember the same nostalgic tone my Dad had in his voice when he reminisced about those days.

There is a note on the back of this photo
"Avery Field before a 'Mens-Boys' baseball game, August 1949"

This is the fun part of having a blog! You never know who will contact you next!

I didn't think of that, Kathleen. I just updated my blog by putting the names into the text so they would be available to search engines. I hope someone else finds a grandfather, father or brother this way. If you do, please drop me a comment!

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About Me

Author of the Nutfield Genealogy blog and occasional genealogy speaker. My family research includes Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, with a smattering of Nova Scotia. Please contact me if you see your ancestors on this blog. I would love to share information. I am the former secretary of the New Hampshire Mayflower Society, former President of the Londonderry Historical Society, member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the Mass. Society of Genealogists, The National Genealogical Society, and the New Hampshire Society of Genealogists.